We See Assisi

We have arrived in Assisi. Our room has its own terrazzo which over looks the Basilica di Santa Chiara ( Saint Clare)....she was a knitter! Her basilica is constructed of striped pink and white lime stone. It is beautiful and appropriate; after all she was a knitter! We unpacked and hit the streets...ok they are just a series of hills (sometimes it seems they are all going up!). The streets are narrow and many houses have flowers planted in pots in front. They actually have a contest for who has the best flowers each year. We had a wonderful dinner of pork filet with greens and pears and rabbit cacciatore. Jim has become quite the adventurous eater! There are cats everywhere is Assisi, even at our hotel....Jim's loving that too! We ended the evening with watermelon gelato; that brings the gelato count to 9 days in country and 7 gelatos. This one is made of watermelon with tiny chocolate "seeds".

Today we went on a tour lead by Giacomo (Jim); "The Assisi Amble". We saw a Roman amphitheater which is now some one's backyard! We also saw the tomb of St. Clare; did I mention she was a knitter? A statue of a lion eating a Christian in front of the basilica of St. Ruffino (the actual patron saint of Assisi...although now he has been upstaged by that pesky St Francis!). Jim seems to think that would make a good Christmas card! We finished the tour outside the bascilica of St Frances. We didn't go inside; I just took pictures outside. I get one church a trip and I used it to see St Clare; did I tell you she was a knitter? We bought some prosciutto and local cheese and wine and sat our terrazzo and enjoyed pranzo al fresco. La Dolce Vita!